Pune: Fake Currency Racket Suspected as Two Arrested for Using Counterfeit Notes on Dhole-Patil Road Tea Stall
Pune, 22nd June 2026: The alertness of a tea stall owner led to the arrest of two men who allegedly attempted to circulate counterfeit Rs 500 notes in the city. The incident took place on Dhole-Patil Road, following which the Koregaon Park police arrested the duo and launched an investigation into the source of the fake currency.
The arrested accused have been identified as Omprakash Mahavir Agarwal (32), a resident of Tingrenagar in Vishrantwadi, and Mausam Narendra Mishra (36), a resident of Lohegaon. A complaint in the case was lodged by Siddharam Ashok Bidankar (25), a resident of Tadiwala Road.
According to the police, Bidankar runs a tea stall on Dhole-Patil Road. On Friday afternoon, Agarwal and Mishra allegedly visited the stall and purchased cigarettes after handing over a Rs 500 note to Bidankar’s mother. She reportedly noticed that the note appeared to be counterfeit and immediately informed her son.
During inquiries, it emerged that the two men had allegedly used another counterfeit Rs 500 note to purchase cigarettes from a nearby shop in the same locality. Suspecting foul play, Bidankar promptly alerted the police control room.
A team from the Koregaon Park police station rushed to the spot and detained the two suspects. Following preliminary verification, the police arrested them for allegedly attempting to circulate fake currency and cheat shopkeepers.
The accused were produced before a court, which remanded them in police custody till June 25.
Police officials said investigations are underway to ascertain where the accused procured the counterfeit notes and whether they were involved in similar incidents of circulating fake currency in other parts of the city. Assistant Police Inspector Jitendra Khairnar is conducting further investigations into the case.
